The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-15
BEHIND THE SCENES.

BEHIND IHE SCENES. -
"She is the daintiest little lady alive!
Beautiful as dream, highly educated
a splendid musician. sings like an an
gel, dances like a sylph-the most
graceful woman / have ever met. In
fact. she is-well, simply perfectionr
And Harry Moody drew "a long
breath of rapture and proceeded to
light cigar.
His friend, Will Garter, glanced up
with an amused smile.
pretty hard hit, secr' he exclaim-
ed lightly. 'Y our Lilly is very seraph
in your sight; but really-'pon honor,
you know-I wouldn't give little Miss
Annie, the Cinderella of the family,
for dozen of your tall white lilies.
Harry, old boy, if it's Il fair question,
did you ever see your divinity except
in the most favorable light, under the
fairest auspices? You are wont to
meet in gay society. She is becoming
ly and expensively attired; got up ex-
pressly to dazzle, and-don't look at
me with such a savage glare, my friend,
but listen. My sister Nell is very in
innate with your sweet Miss Lilly Som
ers. She has dropped stray hint
occasionally, which have not forgot
ten. And, in short-though l expect
you will annihilate me for the heresy
in my humble opinion. Miss Som
ers is delusion and snare, and, to
tell the plain truth, a fraud. She is
lovely in society; but, my friend, glance
behind the scenes, and it's my opinion
that you would be aStonished."
Harry Moody was very angry, but
he had sense enough to realize that his
friend meant well, and as Harry was
not yet engaged to Miss Somers, he
had no right to resent the words which
(ah, there was the stingD might, after
all, have some truth in them; for he
well knew that VIII Carter was not a
man to speak the truth lightly. The
more that he considered the words to
which he had Just listened, the more
Importance did they assume in his
eyes. At last, thinking so much about
the matter impressed him with the de-
sire to see for himself, and prove the
meaning of his friends mysterious
warnings.
And at last, fate-sometimes a very
valuable and unexpected assistant
threw chance in his way that might
Strolling one lovely summer morning
in the vicinity of the home of his be-
loved, Harry Moody caught glimpse
of small side-gate standing wide op-
en-. To do him justice, at the moment
the thoughts winch had preyed upon
his mind for days had slipped from his
memory, and he involuntarily passed
through the gate.
Il will go into the garden" he
thought " ith a smile. Lilly is often
there in the mornings, she says, and
as she does not expect me until to-
night, will surprise her, and she will
be glad to see me-"
Alas! the real surprise was destined
for himself. He was lounging around
as these thoughts Slipped through his
brain. Even as they fitted away, he
came to sudden halt, for the sound
of voices fell upon his ear. He was
standing behind a tall hedge of arbor
vite, and was consequently screened
from observation, yet he could hear
distinctly. Do not despise him as an
eavesdropper. l doubt if there is a
man in the world who would have act
ed otherwise.
''How dare you say such a thing,
Annie Somers?" screamed shrill high
pitched voice, which made the unsus-
pected listener start as though he had
been shot, chow dare you say it?
Apologize this instant, or 1 will make
you! You wretched little nobody, in
terfering in my affairs!'
''But, sister Lilly" returned soft
sweet voice in a tone of depreciation,
''you know that am right, and that
it is not honorable for you to do such
things. You did say that you would
marry the wealthiest one of your suit
ors, no matter which one. / heard
you. And you said also that you would
accept Mr.. Moody if he asked you.
simply because he has plenty of money,
You said, too, that you hate him-pos-
itively hate him. Oh, Lilly, how could
you?"
How could she say the words, or how
could she hate him-which was it?
Harry felt his heart thrill little. 1t
is so nice to have a champion-to know
that one person in the world is ever
ready to defend and approve you, in
your absence as well as in your pres
ence.
And shy little Annie would have al
most died of shame had she dreamed
that the man whose cause she was
pleading was even then within hearing
of her words.
But Lilly spoke, and Harry listened
eagerly.
ayes, / said it, )" returned Lilly Som
ers in Il lower key. but her voice was
sullen and defiant, Il said it, l admit,
and repeat it. l hate him, and that's
do Il 4
Harry Moody stared in utter incred-
ulous amazement. A low sob was
heard, and again the soft low voice of
Annie Somers fell upon his ear.
Il am not ashamed TOTO care for a
good man." she painted; land do care
for-for him. But | would be ashamed
to marry a man whom l hated just for
his money. If you do that, Lilly-if
you marry Harry Moody for his money
you will both be unhappy to the end
of your days"
''She will never marry Harry
Moody" cried our hero sternly, step
ping suddenly around the hedge, and
confronting the sisters.
Annie, slight and pretty, neat and
dainty as household fairy, glanced
quickly into his eyes, and then, cover
ing her face with her little hands, dart
ed away like q frightened fawn.
Lilly Somers staggered to her feet
in wordless horror and amazement.
Lilly Somers, in soiled and ragged
wrapper, with pair of slippers very
much down at the heel, and her hair
in untidy curl-papers; Lilly Somers,
minus powder, rouge, and all the thOus-
and and one little arts which go to
make up the toilet; Lilly Somers, very
plain and unlovely Lilly. indeed.
The young man took in the situa-
ton at glance; then. with profound
| how quietly Withdrew He had seen